Programme at a Glance
Intake and Application
Overview
The National University of Singapore (NUS) Master of Arts (Theatre and Performance Studies), hereafter referred to as the MA (TPS), is offered by the Department of English, Linguistics and Theatre Studies in the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS).
This distinctive one-year Master of Arts degree programme equips students with the latest approaches to understanding and engaging traditional and contemporary forms of theatre, performance and cultural activity, while also enabling them to apply their studies toward professional development and industry contexts.
Grounded in our department’s world-class expertise, the MA (TPS) integrates theory and practice, training students in close critical and historically contextualised analysis while equipping them with a host of transferable skills. Students desiring to create and develop performance will have hands-on learning opportunities.
Our courses develop critical thinking, research abilities and presentation skills, particularly for those who seek to work between arts practice, industry, research and community advancement. They are taught by globally recognised leaders in areas such as theatre history, Asian performance, play analysis, practice-based research, collaborative performance creation, digital humanities, and interdisciplinary study of literature, film and performance.
Students will be equipped with practical and conceptual skillsets required to meet the demands of current theatre and performance industries, and for cultural leadership in a wide range of roles from arts educator, to arts organisation leader, to cultural research associate, to arts policy maker. Additionally, with our emphasis on digital skills in the arts and humanities, students will be uniquely poised to apply digital tools to a variety of public, educational and industry contexts. Expertise in digital skills for humanities research will open doors for students interested in intersections between theatre, performance and professional activities such as archive development, multimedia interface, data-storytelling and web design.
Why This Programme?
Develop skills that are highly relevant in the theatre and performance industries, which are also transferable across domains.
Cultivate a range of competencies (e.g. critical thinking, research abilities, presentation skills as well as close critical and historically contextualised analysis) crucial for those who seek to work between arts practice, industry, research, community advancement and cultural leadership.
Take advantage of opportunities for the study of digital skills in the arts and humanities, and gain familiarity with the contemporary tools used for professional activities such as archive development, interaction design and multimedia interface, along with data-storytelling and web design.
Application Period
An Academic Year (AY) at NUS consists of two semesters and a special term (which occurs during the Semester 2 Vacation, and is divided into two parts of six weeks duration each):
Kindly note that classes for the MA (TPS) programme will run only during Semesters 1 and 2 (there are no classes during the Special Term).
For the MA (TPS) programme, there is one application period for each AY:
| Programme | Intake | Application Dates |
|---|---|---|
| MA (TPS) | Semester 1 (Aug Intake) | 1 Nov of preceding year to 15 Jan of intake year |
Admission to the NUS MA (TPS) programme is granted on a competitive basis as places in the programme are limited. Applicants should possess the following minimum requirements:
| Academic | Bachelor’s Degree (with Honours), or equivalent, in relevant disciplines (e.g. theatre, performance, drama, literature, cultural history, gender studies, or other interdisciplinary academic programmes in the humanities and social sciences that give the major a measure of competence in related subject matter) Note: Candidates with academic qualifications other than the above (and the relevant work experience described below) may be considered on a case-by-case basis, subject to approval by the Board of Graduate Studies |
| Skill/Experience | For holders of Bachelor’s Degrees without honours, at least two years of relevant work or practical experience (e.g. as a theatre practitioner) |
| English Language | Applicants whose native tongue and medium of university instruction is not completely in English: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) minimum score of 85 (Internet-based), and at least 22 for the writing component; or, International English Language Testing System (IELTS) minimum Academic score of 6.0 Note: TOEFL / IELTS scores are valid for two years from the test date and should not have expired at point of application. Expired scores will not be considered for the application. Exceptions to the language requirement above may be allowed on an individual basis. The NUS Centre for English Language Communication (CELC) Diagnostic English Test and the taking of English Proficiency modules remain as a provision to help establish a student’s level of English and improve his/her language ability. |
| Other | Not applicable |
Candidates may visit the official Educational Testing Service (ETS) website for scheduling of TOEFL/GRE tests.
Note: Curriculum Vitae and complete or current academic transcripts and degree scroll(s) as well as a writing sample (a piece of academic writing, preferably on a topic related to the focuses of study for the MA (TPS)) will need to be submitted with an application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application information and all supporting documents are truthful and correct. NUS reserves the right to verify information provided as part of an application. False or misleading information in an application (including but not limited to test scores, resumes, certificates, transcripts, etc.) is grounds for admission rejection, revocation and/or dismissal from the University.
The NUS MA (TPS) programme is offered on the following basis (with estimated time to complete the programme indicated below):
| Full-time | 12 months |
| Part-time | 24 months |
Note: International applicants must be accepted into an approved full-time course in Singapore to apply for a Student’s Pass. For more information, refer to the Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) website.
The MA (TPS) is a 40-Unit coursework-based Master’s Degree programme comprising:
Core/essential courses (4 Units), and
Elective courses (36 Units).
Core/Essential Courses
Students must complete the Core/Essential Course (4 Units) as listed below.
| Course Code | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| TPS5101 | Text and Performance | 4 |
Elective Courses
Students must complete 36 Units of Elective Courses, with at least one from each of the three categories listed below. Electives may also include a selection of recognised courses from neighbouring programmes (e.g. ENC5244: Shakespeare in Culture and the New Millennium). A maximum of one course may be an Independent Study (arranged with one of our faculty members).
Theatre, Film and Literature
| Course Code | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| TPS5212 | Asian International Cinema | 4 |
| TPS5213 | Performing Shakespeare in Asia | 4 |
| TPS5214 | Performance Ethnography | 4 |
| TPS5215 | Theatre and the Novel | 4 |
| TPS5232 | Performance, History and Cultural Memory | 4 |
Creative Practices in Performance
| Course Code | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| TPS5201 | Collaborative Performance Creation | 4 |
| TPS5202 | Theatre and Civil Dramaturgy | 4 |
| TPS5203 | Movement as Critique | 4 |
Digital Skills in the Arts and Humanities
| Course Code | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| TPS5241 | Digital Archiving and Live Performance | 4 |
| TPS5242 | Visualising Orientalism, Travel and Performance | 4 |
| TPS5243 | Data Analysis and Visualisation for Theatre Research | 4 |
Note: For more information about the courses listed above (as well as other courses offered in the current academic year), please visit NUSMODS.
To graduate from the NUS MA (TPS) programme, students must meet the following requirements:
| Programme and/or Specialisation | Read and pass a total of 40 Units, comprising: 4 Units of core/essential course, and 36 Units of Elective Courses (with at least one from each category) |
| Course and/or Qualification | Not applicable |
| Grade Point Average (GPA) | Minimum 3.0 (out of maximum 5.0)
Please see also the University’s minimum standards for Continuation and Graduation Requirements. Specific programmes may implement stricter or additional requirements. |
| Other | Not applicable |
The University reserves all rights to review fees as necessary and adjust accordingly without prior notice.
| Tuition | S$38,264.00
(excluding GST) /
|
| Application | To be advised Non-refundable and non-transferable Limited to one application submission per intake, for up to a maximum of five programmes/courses per application |
| Acceptance | Not applicable |
| Miscellaneous Student Fees | As published by Office of the University Registrar
Payable every regular semester |
Scholarships & Financial Assistance
The scholarships and financial assistance schemes presented here are examples of the kinds of funding from the University as well as third-party sponsors that might be available to eligible NUS Master's Degree (Coursework) programme students and applicants.
The information provided is subject to change, and warranties cannot be provided as to its completeness or accuracy. Students and applicants are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research, and refer to the relevant sponsors and/or websites for more detailed and up-to-date information.
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NUS Master's Degree by Coursework Tuition Fee Rebate
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